Sixteen Macau Gaming Establishments Fail Smoking Tests

CasinoWebScripts, one of the leading slot developers, reports that Macau casinos have been requested twice this year to set up smoking areas for customers in order to comply with the smoking tests. During the first round, whose results were published last April, no less than 28 out of 46 casinos failed air quality tests. Since then, the second round occurred and the number of casinos which did not succeed in improving their air quality dropped to 16. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U explained that any casino operators who will not succeed in ameliorating the conditions will be forced to reduce their smoking areas.

Cheong did not reveal which casinos were involved in this situation, but rumors have it that 16 of the 28 offenders which failed during the second round were run by SJM Holdings. Furthermore, Macau lawmakers recently unveiled new rules for gambling activities in residential neighborhoods, which request all gaming operators who own slot parlors to run their business from at least 500 meters away from a land based casino inside buildings which do not house residents, or in a 5-star hotel. This will lead to several local gaming operators closing their parlors, Mocha Clubs run by Melco Crown Entertainment being one of them.